Monitoring Hybrid Battery State-Of-Charge

[MaveRichard]

Good Morning! Long time lurker, first time poster...

I finally got my truck! 11/15/21 XLT Lux Hybrid order, reordered 2023 9/19/22. Cyber Orange

After 500 miles of learning the behavior of this hybrid in various driving situations I have found myself wanting to have some way to view the HVB (High Voltage Battery) state of charge. There are a variety of reasons why I want this information live, but it comes down to efficiency and understanding the behavior of my vehicle.

I have searched around the forum extensively and have really only found one user, @GPSMan, that is monitoring HVB State-of-Charge through a ScanGauge III. Before I spend $270 on a new ScanGuage, I am hoping there is a way to make this work with my old ScanGauge II. I am well versed at using the X-Codes feature on various different vehicles and have had the ScanGauge II in all my vehicles for around 8 years. It looks like the ScanGauge III has an automatic programming mode that allows this data to be viewed - I am curious if GPSMan would be able to view and share the programming codes.

I have looked through the ScanGuage support website and the codes listed for the Escape Hybrid don't appear to work for the Maverick.

I am also aware of the ability to use a bluetooth OBDII reader with android and Torque Pro app. I actually have this on an old phone of mine, but don't like it as a permanent solution because it is another thing to have to turn on when you get in the car to drive.

Thank you!

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[GPSMan]

Hey, lucky for you we check for messages same time of day.


SGII Firmware does not support reading the Maverick Hybrid functions, but will read the OBDII basics like water temperature.

 

[GPSMan]

Use EV coach in the mean time.
It is a rudimentary battery gauge, while in EV mode. No numbers, but larger blue bar = more charged.

 

[Rod]

Why monitor thE battery? You can’t change anything. Even the behavior of the truck, ie, when the ice starts and stops will not like correlate to any scan gauge readings. Just curious..

 

[GPSMan]

This size blue bar = high state of charge. The bar shrinks gradually to just a peg at 30% charge, the lowest you can get in EV mode.

 

[GPSMan]

Why monitor thE battery? You can’t change anything. Even the behavior of the truck, ie, when the ice starts and stops will not like correlate to any scan gauge readings. Just curious..

Because you can do THIS:

Now rinse and repeat to infinity.

 

[MaveRichard]

Hey, lucky for you we check for messages same time of day.


SGII Firmware does not support reading the Maverick Hybrid functions, but will read the OBDII basics like water temperature.

How did you learn this?

Is this what led you to the SGIII?

Are you able to view the X-Code data on the SGIII? This is really what I am interested in, mostly to compare to the hybrid escape data that I have input currently.

Sorry for all the questions, you just seem to be the expert! I currently have it showing ICE RPM, 12V Voltage and ICE water temp. I have used the EV Coach, but on my XLT if I have that on the display it is all that I see. I like to have trip info visible too. Edit: looks like you have an XLT also.

Sounds like a SGIII may be in my future. Thank you for your help!

 

[Rod]

Because you can do THIS:

Now rinse and repeat to infinity.

why are you showing that standard screen? I get that without any scan gauge.

 

[MaveRichard]

Why monitor thE battery? You can’t change anything. Even the behavior of the truck, ie, when the ice starts and stops will not like correlate to any scan gauge readings. Just curious..

For me, it is more of a "why not?"

I am well aware that this is "nerdy" but this is how I always have been with vehicles. I just love to have the data even if I do nothing with it.

I can't change what the truck does, but I can change how I interact with the truck. ICE Starts and stops are based on the data that the SG reads - it will absolutely correlate to the behavior of the truck. I don't think it is a coincidence that the individual getting the highest MPGs (and 800+ mile tanks) on this forum monitors this information...

 

[Dad]

Why monitor thE battery? You can’t change anything. Even the behavior of the truck, ie, when the ice starts and stops will not like correlate to any scan gauge readings. Just curious..

I agree. With the hybrid 12v issues, I'd be more inclined to monitor the 12v battery.

 

[Last Truck Ever]

I will just add, though I don't have mine yet, I drive a hybrid CMAX for work, has a nice display in the coach showing the status of the battery -- I look at it all the time, just habit I suppose, but as far as I can tell it doesn't really MEAN much to my habits or the driving experience. I've had ONE time in the past five years when I got in and noticed the battery was REALLY low, but generally speaking it stays in a range from half to 7/8th's "full," bouncing up and down depending on driving, braking, idle time and probably 100 other factors I don't know about. I wouldn't lose any sleep OR spend a bunch of money to be able to see more info on it, in fact I don't WANT more info on it, one less thing to have to worry about. I need a car to reliably start up and run, every time I get in it, I'll leave the how/why it does all that to bigger brains. Mine ain't got room for it.

 

[MaveRichard]

I agree. With the hybrid 12v issues, I'd be more inclined to monitor the 12v battery.

I do monitor the 12v battery as well

 

[Rod]

For me, it is more of a "why not?"

I am well aware that this is "nerdy" but this is how I always have been with vehicles. I just love to have the data even if I do nothing with it.

I can't change what the truck does, but I can change how I interact with the truck. ICE Starts and stops are based on the data that the SG reads - it will absolutely correlate to the behavior of the truck. I don't think it is a coincidence that the individual getting the highest MPGs (and 800+ mile tanks) on this forum monitors this information...

If you believe someone is really getting 800 miles out of a tank under normal and varied driving conditions, well….

 

[MaveRichard]

I will just add, though I don't have mine yet, I drive a hybrid CMAX for work, has a nice display in the coach showing the status of the battery -- I look at it all the time, just habit I suppose, but as far as I can tell it doesn't really MEAN much to my habits or the driving experience. I've had ONE time in the past five years when I got in and noticed the battery was REALLY low, but generally speaking it stays in a range from half to 7/8th's "full," bouncing up and down depending on driving, braking, idle time and probably 100 other factors I don't know about. I wouldn't lose any sleep OR spend a bunch of money to be able to see more info on it, in fact I don't WANT more info on it, one less thing to have to worry about. I need a car to reliably start up and run, every time I get in it, I'll leave the how/why it does all that to bigger brains. Mine ain't got room for it.

Thanks for the input! Certainly I am not losing sleep over this, just a curiosity to see if it is possible. The SGII will be mounted in the truck regardless.

 

[McTimson]

Sure, watching the battery SoC does not do anything to change the truck itself, but it can absolutely let you change your driving habits to maximize fuel efficiency.

If you keep it on cruise control for your entire drive then it's not going to do anything (and there's nothing wrong with that). But with more data, you can plan your routes and driving habits differently, which some people like to do.

I also wish there was a cheaper alternative just to get the battery info, but I'm looking into an SGIII as well.

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